DISPENSER

Abstract: A dispenser (5) for fluent material such as granular or powdered coffee and tea can either form part of the container (1) for the material or it can be separate from the container (1) and be temporarily fitted to the container (1) by the user. It comprises two chambers one of which (27A) is adapted to receive a predetermined quantity of the fluent material from the container (1) when the container (1) is tipped in one direction and the other of which (27B) is adapted to receive a different predetermined quantity of the fluent material from the container (1) when the container (1) is tipped in another direction. There are no moving parts, and outlet means (15) permit the predetermined quantity of fluent material to be discharged from the dispenser (5).

Description: DISPENSER This invention relates to a dispenser for dispensing powdered or granular materials, hereinafter referred to as fluent materials. A particular, but not sole, application of the invention is to a dispenser for dispensing coffee or powdered tea. The fluent material is kept in a suitable container and the dispenser may be a part of the container at the discharge end thereof. The container may be, for example, a glass jar in which the fluent material is sold to the user in which case the dispenser forms part of the container and when all the fluent material has been dispensed, the container and the dispenser are thrown away. Alternatively, the dispenser may be separate from the container and is adapted to be secured, by the user to a container of fluent material after the closure member supplied with the container has been removed. When all the fluent material has been dispensed, the dispenser is removed from the container and is kept for use with another container of fluent material. GB-B-2050302 discloses a dispenser forming the discharge end of a container for fluent material. The dispenser has a chamber which, in use, is arranged to receive a predetermined quantity . of., fluent, material from the container upon tipping of the container. Outlet means is provided through which fluent material in the chamber is discharged from the container. In some applications it is desirable that the dispenser can dispense two or more different predetermined quantities of fluent material from the container. An example of such an application is a dispenser for coffee which can dispense two different quantities of coffee which make a "weak cup" or a "strong cup" respectively. It is known from US-A-2877937 for a dispensing device for fluent material to dispense a fixed predetermined quantity of the material when the container is tipped. There is a movable part within the dispensing device which is moved by the user in order to change the predetermined quantity of material which is dispensed. Movable parts in a dispenser are likely to cause ' problems and difficulties in use. They can cause clogging of the fluent material in the dispenser and they are sometimes difficult to move without allowing fluent material to leak past the movable part and out of the container. It is an object of the present invention to provide a dispenser which has no moving parts and which can dispense different quantities of fluent material from a container with which the dispenser is either permanently or temporarily attached. According to a first aspect of the present invention- εr dispenser at the. dis-chaxge end. of a container containing fluent material has a first chamber arranged to receive a first quantity of fluent material from the container upon tipping of the container in one direction, a second chamber arranged to receive a second quantity, which is different from the first quantity, of fluent material from the container upon tipping of the container in another direction and outlet means through which fluent material in said chambers is discharged from the container. Hence without the use of any moving parts, the dispenser can be operated to discharge two different quantities of fluent material as required by the user simply by tipping the container in different directions. When the dispenser is separate from the container and is adapted to be attached to the container, the dispenser is such that in use with the dispenser attached to a container with fluent material therein, the first chamber receives a first quantity of fluent material from the container upon tipping the container in one direction and the second chamber is arranged to receive a second quantity, which is different from the first quantity of fluent material from the container upon tipping the container in another direction. According to a second aspect of the present invention a dispenser at the discharge end of a container containing fluent material or a dispenser which is adapted for attachment to a container containing fluent material at the discharg-e end thereof- has- first a-nd second rag-iαns. disposed side-by-side in the direction of a lateral axis of the container and each region has a chamber and a further chamber inverted with respect to it and overlapping with it, and a duct extending from the chamber and with one end of the duct constituting a discharge outlet of the container and the further chamber being in communication with the interior of the container through a further duct; the arrangement being such that in use with fluent material in the container, on rotating the container in a first direction normal to said lateral axis to lower the discharge end of the container a first quantity of fluent material previously stored in the chamber of one region is discharged through the duct of the region to the exterior of the container, and on rotating the container in the opposite direction normal to said lateral axis to lower the discharge end of the container a second quantity, which is different from the first quantity, of fluent material and which had previously been stored in the chamber of the other region is discharged through the duct of the other region to the exterior of the container. It will be appreciated that the chamber of each region is charged with a predetermined quantity of fluent material by rotating the container in the appropriate direction and thereafter rotation of the container in the same appropriate direction will cause the quantity of fluent material to be discharged from the dispenser. In more detail r an. rotating th-a container in a first direction normal to the lateral axis to lower the discharge end of the container, any fluent material in the chamber of the first region is discharged through the duct to the exterior of the container; fluent material in the container flows through the further duct into the further chamber of the first region; and any fluent material in the chamber of the second region falls into the further chamber of the second region; and, on returning the container in a second direction opposite to the first direction to a position where the discharge end thereof is uppermost, a proportion of the fluent material in the further chamber of the first region falls into the chamber to constitute a first quantity therein; and fluent material in the further chamber of the second region returns to the container. On rotating the container in the second direction to lower the discharge end of the container, fluent material in the • container flows through the further duct into the further chamber of the second region; and any fluent material in the chamber of the first region falls into the further chamber of the first region; and, on returning the container in a direction opposite to said second direction to a position where the discharge end is uppermost, a proportion of the fluent material in the further chamber of the second region falls into the chamber of the second region to constitute a second quantity therein which is different from the first quantity; and fluent material in the further chamber of the first region returns to the containe > Advantages of the invention are:- The user selects the desired volume by orientation of the device relative to the axis of inversion used in the charging/discharging operation. During inversion in selected orientation the desired metering chamber is at the lowest point of the device. The chambers are charged and discharged, without the use of moving parts, by inversion of the device. The action of charging the desired chamber discharges the other chambers to the interior of the container so that only the desired volume is dispensed. Even when, at rest, a etered volume is residing in one of the chambers and if another volume chamber is desired, selecting the new volume and inverting the device about the appropriate axis will return the contents of the other chambers, to the container. A second inversion about the new axis will discharge the new volume. In order that the invention may be more readily understood, it will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: - Figure l is a sectional side elevation of a dispenser in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is an inverted plan, Figure 3 is an exploded view of the dispenser. Figures 4-1 to 4-8 εYτow diagrammatica-lly succaas.iv.a steps in the operation of a dispenser in accordance with the invention. Figure 5 is a diagrammatic side elevation of an alternative embodiment of the invention. Figure 6 is a sectional side elevation of a dispenser in accordance with another embodiment of the invention, Figure 7 shows a step in the use of the dispenser of Figure 6. Figures 8 and 9 show diagrammatically alternative forms of the invention which permit the dispensed quantities to be varied. Referring to Figures 1-3, a container of fluent material such as "instant" coffee has an open end 1 with a thread moulded on its outer surface around the open end. A thin foil 3 is secured around its edge to the top edge of the open end of the container in order to seal in the contents of the container. A dispenser 5 is screwed onto the thread on the container and it forms a dispensing closure for the container. The container and its contents may be sold to the user with the dispenser 5 in position or the container may be sold with some other form of closure screwed onto it and the user replaces the original closure with the dispenser 5. The dispenser 5 is conveniently of plastics material and comprises an outer portion 7 and an inner portion 9 which is- clipped into, the outer portion. The outer portion 7 comprises an annular side wall part 11 having a thread on its inside which mates with the thread on the container and a top wall 13 which has two segmental openings 15 in it. Extending downwardly from the top wall are three internal walls 17 arranged in side-by- side parallel relation and each extending substantially parallel to a diameter of the top wall. The two outer walls 17A are positioned adjacent the respective openings 15 and the central wall 17B is of greater depth than the two outer walls. The inner portion 9 of the dispenser is of cylindrical form with a side wall 19 which is adapted to be clipped into the inside wall of the outer portion, and a base 21 which has an opening in the form of a generally rectangular slot 23 in it. The edges of the base 21 which define the slot are turned upwardly along the side walls of the slot 23 so that the inner portion defines first and second chambers 25A, 25B respectively which are of different volumes. The top wall of the inner portion 9 and the three walls 17 are arranged such that the central wall 17B and one of the outer walls 17A define a further chamber 27A which is inverted with respect to the chamber 25A and which overlies part of chamber 25A. Similarly the top wall, the central wall 17B and the other outer wall 17A define a further chamber 27B which is inverted with respect to the chamber 25B and which overlies part of the chamber 25B. The side w ll 19- and th two outer walls..13A. define two ducts 29 which extend from the respective chambers 25A, 25B to the openings 15 and similarly the upturned edges of the base 21 and the central wall 17B define two ducts 30 which extend from the further chambers 27A, 27B into the container and one end of each of these ducts serves as an inlet to the dispenser. A flat thin cylindrical plate 31 has a plurality of studs 33 on one side which clip into corresponding openings formed in the top wall of the inner part 9 so that the plate 31 serves to cover the top wall 13 and the openings 15. The plate has two integral hinges 35 which enable side parts of the plate to be pivoted and act as flaps which can be opened or closed to expose or cover the openings 15 as required by the user. The flaps have projections on the underside so that when the flaps are closed they provide a substantially air-tight seal for the openings 15. Conveniently an annular wad seal 37 is fitted between the edge of the foil 3 on the top of the container and the dispenser. It will be appreciated that before the dispenser can be used it has to be removed by the user from the container, the foil seal 3 has to be removed at least around the centre part of the container and the dispenser is then refitted onto the container. Referring now to Figures 4-1 to 4-8, operation of a dispenser similar to that shown in Figures 1-3, but simplified, is illustrated commencing with the dispenser uppermost with respect to the container. A quantity of coffee has previously been poured into chamber A in the manner to be subsequently described. On rotating the container in a clockwise direction until the dispenser is tipped downwardly, the contents of the chamber A is discharged through the duct B and the outlet C, as shown in Figures 4-2 and 4-3. At the same time, coffee from the container has passed along the ducts D and E into the chambers F and G, respectively, and, as shown in 4-5, when the container has been completely inverted, both chambers F and G are full of coffee and the chambers A and H are empty. On reversing the rotation of the container, so that it now moves in the anti-clockwise direction, some of the coffee in the chamber F falls into the chamber A and the coffee in chamber G passes back through the duct E into the container. Almost all the coffee in chamber F falls into chamber A and any excess coffee over the requirement to fill the chamber A falls back into the container and, as shown in 4-8, the chamber A is full of coffee and the other chambers are empty when the container has been turned back to the position where the dispenser is uppermost. If the container is now rotated in the anti¬ clockwise direction from the position shown in 4-1, the coffee in the chamber A falls back into chamber F and then along the duct D back into the container and no coffee is discharge, but, when the container is inverted, both chambers F and G are filled with coffee, see 4-5. On reversing the rotation of the container, i,e., rotating, it back in the clockwise direction, the contents of chamber F falls back into the container but sufficient of the contents of chamber G falls into chamber H to fill this chamber. The position is now similar to what is shown in 4-1, except that it is chamber H which is full of coffee. On rotating the container again in the anti-clockwise direction, the coffee is discharged from chamber H through the open outlet end of the duct J. It will be appreciated that in this embodiment of the invention, the coffee is discharged from the lowest discharge outlet of the container when the container is tipped. This can be seen clearly from figure 4-3, where, with the container tipped in a clockwise direction, the coffee is discharged through the lower discharge outlet C. When the container is tipped in an anti-clockwise direction, the coffee is discharged through the lower discharge outlet of the duct J. The volumes of the chambers A and H are different so that different volumes are dispensed when the container is rotated in one direction to discharge through duct B and in another direction to discharge through duct J. In all embodiments of the invention the shape and dimensions of the walls which define the chambers are chosen to ensure that the quantities of material charged into the respective chambers and discharged from the dispenser are correct for the requirements of the user i.e. in the case of coffee or powdered tea, the quantities represent a weak cup and a strong cup. All internal surfaces of the dispenser are curved to facilitate material flow. In an embodiment of the invention which is not illustrated, the central wall 17B of the inner portion of the dispenser may be omitted so that a single duct extends between the chambers 25A, 25B and the interior of the container. The quantity of material which is charged into the chambers when the container is tipped can be adjusted by changing the overlap between the walls 17 and the upstanding walls of the base of the inner portion. If the overlap is increased then a reduced quantity of material falls into the chambers and vice versa. In an embodiment, not shown, the dispenser permits relative movement between the inner and outer portions to adjust the two quantities which can be dispensed. Referring to figure 5, a container in the form of a glass jar 51 contains fluent material, such as instant coffee. A dispenser 52 is fitted within the neck of the open end of the jar. A foil seal 53 is fitted over the dispenser and a removable lid 54 is screwed on to the container. The container is sold to the user with the foil seal and the lid in position but, when the user is ready to use the coffee, the foil is permanently removed and the lid is temporarily removed. The dispenser shown in the figures is used to dispense two different vo umes' o coffee, but alternative, embodiments enable any one of three different volumes to be dispensed. The dispenser shown in Figure 5 has two basically similar regions arranged side-by-side laterally of the container and each region comprises a first duct 55 arranged substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the container. The end 56 of the duct constitutes one discharge outlet of the dispenser and the opposite end of the duct extends to a first chamber 57 which has a volume substantially equal to the quantity of coffee required to make a "strong cup". Overlying the chamber 57, and inverted with respect to it, is a second chamber 58. Leading from this chamber to the interior of the container is a second duct 59 which is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the container. The other region of the dispenser also has corresponding ducts 55' and 59' and corresponding chambers 57' and 58'. The volume of chamber 57' is less than the volume of chamber 57 and has a volume substantially equal to the quantity of coffee required to make a "weak cup". Another embodiment of the invention is shown in Figure 6 and its operation is shown in Figure 7. The dispenser 61 is fitted into the neck of the container 1 and a removable cap 63 is screwed onto the neck of the container to close off the container and also enclose the dispenser 61. The inner wall surface of the neck of the container is tapered inwardly and the dimension of the outer surface of the dispenser is such as to pemrit the dispenser to be a force fit in the neck. An annular flange 65 on the outer surface of the dispenser projects over the top edge of the container to prevent the dispenser from being forced too far into the neck of the container. The container and its contents are sold with a thin foil 67 sealed around its edge to the edge of the container and a wad seal 69 is positioned between the flange 65 and the edge of the foil. The dispenser has a configuration of ducts and chambers which corresponds to those shown in Figure 1 except that each of the two ducts 71 which serve as outlets from the dispenser is provided with a dribble lip. The lip in each duct is provided by a flange 73 extending into the duct substantially at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the duct from an internal wall of the dispenser. The purpose of the dribble lips will be seen from a reference to Figure 7. When the container has been tipped to dispense one quantity of fluent material from the outlet 75 and is then tipped back into the upright position, the chamber 77 from which the fluent material has been dispensed will then be recharged with material. If the user wishes to dispense a different quantity of the material the container is then tipped in the opposite direction and returned to the upright position to charge the chamber 79 with a different quantity of material. The previously charged material in chamber 77 should be returned to the container by the tipping action. In practice it was found that a small quantity of this material " ■ drifcrtrled 11 out of the outlet I wh-en the container was tipped. This is prevented by the provision of the flange 73 which catches this small quantity which would otherwise dribble out of the dispenser through the outlet 75 . Figures 8 and 9 show embodiments of dispenser which are of generally rectangular form. As shown particularly in Figure 8, the dispenser comprises two end caps A and B arranged to be joined together by means (not shown) . Each end cap has a top wall 83 having three downwardly projecting walls 84, an end wall 85 and side walls 86 with inwardly extending walls 87. When the end caps A and B are secured together, the first and second chambers and the first and second ducts are defined. An insert C comprises a top wall 83C having three downwardly projecting walls corresponding to the walls 84, and side walls 86C with inwardly extending walls. On separating the end caps A and B and introducing one or more inserts C between them, the volume of all the chambers and ducts is increased thereby enabling increased quantities of fluent material to be handled. The Figure 9 arrangement is similar to that shown in Figure 8, except that it is manufactured in two parts which are arranged in overlapping relation and, to adjust the quantities of fluent material which are to be handled, the two parts are moved towards or away from each other.

Claims: Claims 1. A dispenser at the discharge end of a container for fluent material said dispenser having a first chamber arranged to receive a first quantity of fluent material from the container upon tipping of the container in one direction, a second chamber arranged to receive a second quantity, which is different from the first quantity, of fluent material from the container upon tipping of the container in another direction and outlet means through which fluent material in said chambers is discharged from the container. 2. A dispenser adapted to be attached to a container for fluent material at the discharge end thereof, said dispenser having a first chamber and a second chamber and outlet means through which fluent material in said chambers is discharged from the dispenser, the arrangement being such that in use with the dispenser attached to a container with fluent material therein, the first chamber is arranged to receive a first quantity of fluent material from the container upon tipping the container in one direction and the second chamber is arranged to receive a second quantity r wh-ich. is. different from the first quantity, of fluent material from the container upon tipping the container in another direction. - 17 - 3. A dispenser as claimed in claim 1 or 2 in which the outlet means comprises first and second ducts the first of which extends from the first chamber with one end of the duct constituting a discharge outlet and the second duct extends from the second chamber with one end of the duct constituting a discharge outlet. 4. A dispenser as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3 in which each of the first and second chambers has a further chamber inverted with respect to it and overlapping with it, each of said further chambers having a duct which extends from the chamber with one end of the duct constituting an inlet of the dispenser. 5. A dispenser as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, in which the first and second chambers have a further chamber inverted with respect to them and overlapping with them, said further chamber having a duct which extends from the chamber with one end of the duct constituting the inlet of the dispenser. 6. A dispenser at the discharge end of a container for fluent material, or adapted for attachment to a container for fluent material at the discharge end thereof, said dispenser having first and second regions disposed side-by-side in the direction of a lateral axis of the container and each - 18 region having a chamber and a further chamber inverted with respect to it and overlapping with it, and a duct extending from the chamber and with one end of the duct constituting a discharge outlet of the container and the further chamber being in communication with the interior of the container through a further duct; the arrangement being such that in use with fluent material in the container, on rotating the container in a first direction normal to said lateral axis to lower the discharge end of the container a first quantity of fluent material previously stored in the chamber of one region is discharged through the duct of the region to the exterior of the container, and on rotating the container in the opposite direction normal to said lateral axis to lower the discharge end of the container a second quantity, which is different from the first quantity, of fluent material and which had previously been stored in the chamber of the other region is discharged through the duct of the other region to the exterior of the container. 7. A dispenser as claimed in claim 6, wherein on rotating the container in a first direction normal to the lateral axis to lower the discharge end of the container, any fluent material in the chamber of the first region is discharged through the duct to. the exterior of the container; fluent material in the container flows through the further duct into the further chamber of the first region; and any fluent material in the chamber of the second - 19 - region falls into the further chamber of the second region; and , on returning the conta iner in a s econd direction opposite to the f irst direction to a pos ition where the discharge end thereof is uppermost , a proportion of the fluent material in the further chamber of the first region falls into the chamber to constitute a f irst quantity therein ; and fluent material in the further chamber of the second region returns to the container; and, on rotating the container in the second direction to lower the discharge end of the container , f luent material in the container f lows through the further duct into the further chamber of the second region; and any fluent material in the chamber of the first region falls into the further chamber ' of the f irst region ; and , on returning the conta iner in a direction opposite to said second direction to a position where the discharge end is uppermost , a proportion of the f luent material in the further chamber of the second region falls into the chamber of the second region to constitute a second quantity therein which is different from the first quantity; and fluent material in the further chamber of the f irst region returns to the container . 8. A dispenser as claimed in any preceding claim in which the first and second regions- comprise a s-ide uaLl structure having wa lls extending inwardly and upwardly therefrom, said walls and the side wall structure together def ining the f irst and second chambers , and a top wa l l - 20 - structure having walls extending therefrom towards the first and second chambers, said top wall structure and the walls extending therefrom defining said further chambers. 9. A dispenser as claimed in claim 8 in which three walls arranged in side-by-side relation extend from the top wall structure, the outer two of the three walls and the side wall structure together define the first and second ducts and the inner one of the three walls and the upwardly extending parts of the walls of the side wall structure together define said further ducts. 10. A dispenser as claimed in claim 6, 7, 3 or 9 in which each discharge outlet of the dispenser is provided with a hinged cover flap. 11. A dispenser as claimed in claim 8 or 9 in which the side wall structure and the top wall structure are movable relative to each other to vary the separation of the walls on the top structure and the first and second chambers defined by the side wall structure. 12. A dispenser as claimed in claim 1 or 2 in which the dimensions of the outlet mea-rτs and of the first and second chambers are adjustable to vary the first and second quantities of fluent material. - 2 1 13. A dispenser as claimed in claim 7 in which each duct leading to a discharge outlet of the dispenser is provided with a lip to catch any fluent material which would otherwise be discharged through the outlet when a tipping action of the dispenser causes material previously stored in a chamber to return to the container.

Inventors: CLARKE ROGER WILLIAM, CLARKE, ROGER, WILLIAM
Applicants: CLARKE ROGER WILLIAM, DANIELS S PLC, CLARKE, ROGER, WILLIAM, S. DANIELS PLC
Application year: 1994
Main classification: B65D25
IPC codes: B65D25, G01F11